Trooper Says No Favoritism Paid to Other Officer

JACKSONVILLE, Fla — The now retired trooper who investigated a crash involving a JSO Officer who later admitted to driving drunk defended the Florida Highway Patrol’s investigation.

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Stanley Petty told First Coast News that he did not administer a field sobriety test to Jacksonville Sheriff’s Officer Lenell Boyer because he did not see any signs that Boyer may have been driving impaired.

Boyer was suspended for one month without pay and was transferred to another department after the March 7 crash.

A blood alcohol test administered by Boyer’s supervisor after the Florida Highway Patrol finished its investigation revealed Boyer was over the legal limit when, while off-duty, he drove his personal car into the back of a street sweeping vehicle on I-95.

Due to Garrity Laws, JSO could not criminally charge Boyer with DUI.  FHP acted as the investigative agency in the case, and according to a JSO internal report, police officers told the FHP trooper on scene that Boyer may have been under the influence.

Stanley Petty said he was working the midnight shift for the Florida Highway Patrol when he got the call to respond to the crash.

When Petty arrived, he said he talked to Boyer in the back of a police patrol car.  Police said Boyer tried to flee the scene earlier, and was brought back in a cruiser.

Petty described Boyer as shaken up from the collision, and said Boyer was talking about another JSO officer tazing him.  Boyer later told investigators he did not recall making that accusation.

Petty found Boyer at fault for causing the crash, and cited him for careless driving.

Thursday, Petty told First Coast News he did not perform a field sobriety test because to him, Boyer did not appear to be under the influence.  Petty told JSO investigators the same thing in the agency’s internal report.

Petty is a 29-year veteran of the Florida Highway Patrol who this summer retired from patrol force to reserves; his retirement had nothing to do with the Boyer case.

The former trooper said he has made many DUI arrests in his career.  During the same month-long shift, Petty said he arrested four to five people for driving under the influence.

Petty does not know Boyer.

The retired trooper said no favoritism was paid to the other officer on March 7; he noted that last spring, he cited another off-duty law enforcement officer for DUI, and arrested that officer.

The first he’d heard that JSO released an internal investigation report with his name in it was this morning, Petty said, when he saw the story on the news.

Petty also said he had no idea that the Highway Patrol is now conducting its own internal investigation: he said he has not been contacted about the matter.

Have you been arrested for drunk driving in Jacksonville or elsewhere in Duval County? If so, you should promptly contact us to evaluate your case free of charge. Call 904-610-6545 now.

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